# Downing

/ˈdaʊnɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈaʊnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/downing
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. drinking quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

drinking a whole glass of something very fast, usually in one go.

For teachers: consuming a beverage rapidly, typically in a single continuous draught.

- He was downing a large glass of water after his long run in the sun.
- The spectators were downing pints of ale with impressive speed while waiting for the second half of the match to commence.

### 2. bringing something down

verb · CEFR B2

making something fall or causing a plane to crash.

For teachers: causing something to fall to the ground, particularly in the context of shooting down an aircraft or tackling an opponent.

- The storm was responsible for downing several power lines across the city.
- The military claimed responsibility for downing the enemy drone after it entered restricted airspace without authorisation.

### 3. an instance of drinking

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an occasion where someone drinks something quickly.

For teachers: the act or an instance of consuming a drink rapidly.

- The quick downing of his coffee suggested he was in a huge rush.
- The rapid downing of the ceremonial drink marked the end of the traditional toast before the guests moved to the dining hall.

## Examples

- He is downing a glass of water.
- After the long run, she was downing two bottles of electrolyte drink.
- The exhausted hikers were downing their rations quickly, eager to regain strength before the storm arrived.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.